This really happened to a colleague. I am willing to wager that it has also happened to you or someone you know…
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A newly hired senior vice president called a staff meeting to update her team on revisions to a mission-critical standard operating procedure (SOP) affecting the group’s work. A few weeks later, she confided her frustration with her staff to her executive coach: “I don’t get this place! Two weeks ago, I brought the whole team together to share this update. No one wrote a thing down or even brought a pen and pad. No one asked any questions either—I’m not even sure they were listening to me. And then, this morning, one of them sent a group email saying the process that had been in place—the one I updated them on—no longer works and needs to be revised. To make matters worse, two staff replied in agreement saying they experienced the same thing. I feel like I might lose my mind.” ​

It would be convenient if one-on-one meetings were somehow exempt from disruptions caused by the two participants. In reality, they aren’t. Whether pleasant conversations with people whose company you enjoy or tense conversations, one-on-one meetings can require you to manage disruptions.
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Reality Check: Do you approach one-on-one meetings expecting an easy flow from one agenda item to the next?  If so, read on…

Shift your mindset. If you are responsible for developing teams’ skills, change the definition of your role from “creating learning events” to that of “building development continuums.” When you do, you will be able to enhance learning outcomes and regain lost training time. Building a development continuum requires designing a complete learning solution—one that prepares learners for the core course, provides multiple touchpoints to the body of content, integrates on-the-job application, provides support to learners after the core event, and taps into the frequently overlooked role played by learners’ managers. 

When you receive requests for the same training in half the time, I’ll suggest that you focus on the donut—not the hole (unrealistic expectations, limited resources, misguided requests, and so on). Even small shifts count when moving the finish line on these requests. Focus less on how far the line gets moved and more on moving it. This will build momentum for bigger shifts on future projects. 

​Have you ever committed to do something for a friend only to have it slip your mind? Then, days or weeks later, a passing comment, commercial, or other trigger reminds you of it? And, even though you had every intention of following through, without the trigger it wouldn’t have happened?

​Learners experience the same phenomenon—even in the best-case scenario, in which they appreciate the learning opportunity, arrive motivated, value the course material, and intend to use it. When they return to work, they get hit by all that transpired while they were in training and often lose sight of their implementation plans. Learning boosters can refocus them on their action plans and implementation strategies.

​Be careful what you wish for!  Using a virtual collaboration platform that allows for bi-directional audio and supports webcams may sound like the ideal option.  Let’s call this Level Three.  In a Level Three scenario, you will want to give thoughtful consideration to how you will integrate the remaining two actions – before your session begins… 

Don’t be fooled into thinking the platform will magically create engagement in your virtual presentations – engagement is your responsibility.  The available tools can help.  But, they can also hurt when you are unfamiliar with them, unskilled at using them, or don’t leverage the advantages they provide. 
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This week, we look at Level Two: collaborating over a virtual platform but still using unidirectional audio.  

As little as three percent of your presentation tools are available to you in a virtual delivery.  How is it that virtual presentations are up against such a disadvantage?  Because nonverbal communication accounts for up to 97% of your message, and your audience likely won’t be looking at you.  Webcam, you say?  Read on…  In this three-part series, I’ll share simple, yet powerful strategies you can use the next time you collaborate virtually, regardless of how robust your platform is – or isn’t.
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Level One: you have a phone, and not much else.